Technology, Politics And Citizenship
Overview
In 2014 a hashtag about kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria was shared more than four million times in a month and was held up on placards by heads of government. Years later most of the girls were still missing. Both halves of that sentence are true, and holding them together is what this topic is about.
You will study how campaigns are built and lost online, how citizens and politicians actually use technology during an election and what happens when the vote itself moves onto a network, and how two very different countries have written rules for what may be published, alongside the harder question of what 'bias' in a ranked feed or a newsroom would even mean.
Objectives
- Communications technology and campaigning, including the use of social media to raise awareness about issues
- The use of communications technology during elections by citizens and politicians as part of the democratic process
- The themes of censorship and bias in relation to communications technology, using two countries as examples
Mind map
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Flashcards
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Technology, Politics And Citizenship. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- The term 'slacktivism' refers to: A) Campaigning carried out only by professional lobbyists B) Participation that costs the participant very little and may substitute for more demanding action C) A government ban on political advertising D) Voting by post rather than in person Answer: B
- Estonia first offered internet voting in national elections in which year, and at the 2023 parliamentary election roughly what share of votes was cast online? A) 2005; about 51 per cent B) 1998; about 90 per cent C) 2015; about 10 per cent D) 2020; about 25 per cent Answer: A
- In 2009 the German Federal Constitutional Court ruled against the use of voting machines mainly because: A) The machines had been shown to miscount votes B) They were too expensive for local authorities C) Ordinary citizens could not check the essential steps of voting and counting without specialist knowledge D) They were manufactured outside Germany Answer: C
- Germany's Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) required large social networks to: A) Verify the real name of every user before allowing them to post B) Remove manifestly unlawful content within 24 hours of a complaint, subject to large fines C) Store all German user data on servers inside Germany D) Obtain a government licence before operating Answer: B
- In the Cambridge Analytica case, the wrongdoing that was established and penalised was: A) Proof that the targeting changed the result of an election B) The theft of money from users' accounts C) Obtaining and using personal data without meaningful consent D) Publishing false statements about candidates Answer: C
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